Bible-carrier (A)

“Of all bookes, they least respect the Bible. Many will have statute bookes, cronicles, yea play-bookes, and such-like toyish pamphlets, but not a bible in their house or hands… . Some vse to carry other bookes with them to church … to draw away their mindes from hearing God’s word when it is read and preached to them. Some goe yet further, and will not suffer their wives, children, or other of their household to reade the Word. And some scoffe at such as carry the scriptures with them to church, terming them in reproach Bible-carriers.”—Gouge: Whole Armour of God, p. 318 (1616).